Here’s the thing about a movie like Silver Linings Playbook, I think that maybe you need to have experience with mental illness to fully appreciate and understand this movie. I don’t mean that there’s no way you could understand it at all, just that it helped to have gone through some of the things that the characters do.Growing up and well into my young adulthood, I struggled with depression and anxiety. I won’t sit here and tell you that I’ve been “cured” of my depression, but I can say that it has lessened to a dull roar in the back of my head. I still have anxiety about a number of things. Sometimes it manifests as a worrisome internal battle as to whether or not I should say or do something. Other times it’s trying to convince myself to leave the house altogether. I’ve missed too many outings because the mere thought of going in public left me terrified for no discernable reason. I toe the line between “being particular” and having genuine OCD. Members of my family also struggle with various shades of mental illness such as Bipolar Disorder and have manic episodes not unlike the ones depicted in the movie.Everyone deals with their mental illness differently. Some need medication, others therapy, others ignore it completely and hope it goes away. Whatever the method, there’s still too much of a stigma with regards to the various mental disorders. They are far more common than people think. If you are suffering and need help you should absolutely reach out to one of your local organizations or even online as there is a plethora of support for you.Take a listen to the episode. I hope that it helps you in knowing that you are not alone.